Consumer News

With the warm October weather we’ve been experiencing, Christmas is likely to be the last thing on your mind. But there are now around 11 weeks to go – and if you'd like to avoid one big bill in December, now is the time to start planning. Spreading the cost over several pay packets can make the festive season far more manageable. Whether you buy a little at a time or simply set money aside, starting early gives you more control, more time to find genuine bargains, and will make January less of a struggle.

We were recently contacted by a consumer who was trying to establish whether Jersey residents are covered by Saga travel insurance policies.  The issue arose after the consumer received conflicting information from different sources within Saga. During a phone conversation with a Saga representative, they were told that Jersey residents who have a Jersey GP would not be covered under the policy.

Amazon's ‘Prime Big Deal Days’ sale runs on Tuesday, 6 and Wednesday, 7 October, offering two days of discounts for Prime members. The sale comes seven weeks before Black Friday on 27 November, and with countdown timers on every page, it's easy to feel you need to act fast. However, while there are genuine bargains to be had, not every deal is necessarily what it seems. Here’s our advice, before you part with your money on an Amazon sale day:

We’ve been contacted by several Islanders in recent weeks who are still unable to obtain credit cards, despite credit reference agencies now having secure access to Islanders’ data through new data-sharing arrangements. Since our last update in July, where we answered consumers’ questions about the new credit data-sharing arrangements, we’ve been told that Islanders are still being refused access to credit cards from providers such as American Express, John Lewis and Barclaycard.

You can come and meet representatives of the Jersey Consumer Council next week and talk to us about any consumer issues you may be facing. For our second ‘Jersey Consumer Fair... On the road’, we’ll be at St Brelade Parish Hall at St Aubin on Thursday, 8 October, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

As the evenings become cooler and Christmas items begin to appear in the shops, autumn is a good time to take a fresh look at your household spending. Winter can bring additional costs, from higher energy use and fuel to seasonal shopping and household expenses. So, taking a little time now to check what you’re currently paying for could help you avoid unnecessary costs and unpleasant surprises later in the year.

With the warm October weather we’ve been experiencing, Christmas is likely to be the last thing on your mind. But there are now around 11 weeks to go – and if you'd like to avoid one big bill in December, now is the time to start planning. Spreading the cost over several pay packets can make the festive season far more manageable. Whether you buy a little at a time or simply set money aside, starting early gives you more control, more time to find genuine bargains, and will make January less of a struggle.

As the evenings become cooler and Christmas items begin to appear in the shops, autumn is a good time to take a fresh look at your household spending. Winter can bring additional costs, from higher energy use and fuel to seasonal shopping and household expenses. So, taking a little time now to check what you’re currently paying for could help you avoid unnecessary costs and unpleasant surprises later in the year.

Funeral costs are often the last thing we’d like to think about, but when the death of a loved one comes along having some idea about what’s on offer and the costs to be occurred makes it easier at such a sad time.

The phrase “cost of living crisis” has been used so often in recent years that it risks losing its impact. But for many Islanders, the reality behind those words is becoming more severe, not less.

Every December, the same quiet but powerful force sweeps through the Island: the pressure to buy Christmas presents.

The UK government has announced significant changes to state pension rules for people living abroad, and these will come into effect from April 2026.

Water bills will be going up again next year, with average households set to pay around £30 more as Jersey Water continues its investment in securing the Island's water supply. The utility provider has confirmed its water charges for 2027, alongside its priorities for the second year of its strategy to 2030.

The Jersey Consumer Council has welcomed calls for stronger protection against so-called ‘subscription traps’, which can leave consumers facing unexpected payments for services they no longer want or need. The issue has been highlighted following moves in the UK to introduce new measures aimed at making subscriptions easier to understand and cancel.

We’ve been looking at our ‘Basket of Essentials’ on Prices.je, and how the cost of items has changed since we began regularly recording prices in 2022. Our data shows that while some grocery prices have stabilised in recent years, the overall cost of everyday shopping remains significantly higher than it was just a few years ago.

As we move into the autumn, despite the continuing good weather, it might be time to think about getting your home ready for the coming months.

The latest figures from Statistics Jersey show that while the overall cost of living has risen by 2.8% over the past year, one of the biggest increases has been in the cost of heating oil and motor fuels, highlighting the importance of shopping around before filling up or ordering home heating oil. According to the latest Retail Prices Index (RPI), heating oil and other fuels increased by 53.5% over the 12 months to June 2026, while petrol and oil rose by 18.0%.

A number of Islanders have recently asked us why heating oil prices in Jersey are higher than those in the UK, and why local prices are not falling at the same rate as the UK.

Whether you need a TV licence or not depends on what you watch... While that may be generally understood, the exact rules are often less clear, thanks to social media comments sharing incorrect information. So we thought we'd look at the TV licensing rules and how they apply in Jersey.

There’s bad news if you’re a Sky TV customer. The satellite television company will be increasing their prices by an average of 6.2% from 1 April.

There’s bad news if you’re a Netflix subscriber – the streaming platform has increased the cost of its monthly subscriptions for UK customers.

We were recently contacted by a consumer who was trying to establish whether Jersey residents are covered by Saga travel insurance policies.  The issue arose after the consumer received conflicting information from different sources within Saga. During a phone conversation with a Saga representative, they were told that Jersey residents who have a Jersey GP would not be covered under the policy.

We’ve been contacted by several Islanders in recent weeks who are still unable to obtain credit cards, despite credit reference agencies now having secure access to Islanders’ data through new data-sharing arrangements. Since our last update in July, where we answered consumers’ questions about the new credit data-sharing arrangements, we’ve been told that Islanders are still being refused access to credit cards from providers such as American Express, John Lewis and Barclaycard.

Islanders who do not want their basic personal information shared with UK credit reference agencies have until the end of the day on Wednesday (29 July) to opt out before the new system comes into effect. From 30 July, the Government of Jersey will begin securely sharing the name, residential address and date of birth of Jersey residents aged 18 and over with the UK credit reference agencies Experian and Equifax.

We've recently been contacted by some consumers who are concerned that they have been overcharged in local supermarkets. Has this happened to you?

We’ve been looking at our ‘Basket of Essentials’ on Prices.je, and how the cost of items has changed since we began regularly recording prices in 2022. Our data shows that while some grocery prices have stabilised in recent years, the overall cost of everyday shopping remains significantly higher than it was just a few years ago.

As the days get longer and the weather warms up, you may be starting to think about dusting off the grill and enjoying outdoor dining with family and friends. And we now have a dedicated 'Barbecue Food' section on Prices.je

With a wide range of gyms, health clubs and spa facilities across Jersey – when it comes to fitness, consumers now have more choice than ever. While this is a good thing for Islanders, it can make selecting the right membership more complex.

When the Island experiences a heatwave, it can be hard to stay cool. The UK summers are getting hotter – and this week we've experienced the highest May temperatures on record – so what are our options to beat the heat?

From 1 July 2025, Islanders will receive a new £10 Government subsidy for appointments with nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, healthcare assistants, and for GP consultations by phone.

The European Union is making changes to customs duties from July 2026, meaning that it will cost more to send most parcels to Europe. From 1 July, they will be removing the exemption on low-value shipments and introducing a customs duty of €3 per item for shipments up to €150 imported from outside of the EU.

What do you think of the Island's postal service? Jersey Post have delivered their annual customer survey to all households, and the deadline to have your say is Friday, 6 February.

Islanders are being advised to expect temporary delays to mail services as a result of ferry operator DFDS withdrawing its Tuesday evening sailing. As a result of the change, all mail arriving in or leaving Jersey on a Tuesday will be delayed by up to 24 hours.

With the cost of living continuing to be a concern for many households, finding ways to make your money go further has never been more important – so we’ve been delighted to see a huge growth in users on our Prices.je site.

If you're looking to cool down with a traditional 99 ice cream this summer, you may find significant differences in price depending on where you choose to buy one. 

We’ve been looking at our ‘Basket of Essentials’ on Prices.je, and how the cost of items has changed since we began regularly recording prices in 2022. Our data shows that while some grocery prices have stabilised in recent years, the overall cost of everyday shopping remains significantly higher than it was just a few years ago.

The Jersey Consumer Council is urging Islanders to stay vigilant after reports of a new scam in which fraudsters are sending text messages claiming recipients have outstanding parking fines.

Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? Dating apps and social media can be great ways to meet people — but they’re also fertile ground for fraudsters. By building trust and then exploiting emotions, dating fraudsters aim to get money, personal details, or even to pull you into “investment” traps. Stay a step ahead with these clear checks and simple actions

With criminals constantly coming up with new and more sophisticated ways to impersonate banks and trick us into parting with our money, it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant.

With the warm October weather we’ve been experiencing, Christmas is likely to be the last thing on your mind. But there are now around 11 weeks to go – and if you'd like to avoid one big bill in December, now is the time to start planning. Spreading the cost over several pay packets can make the festive season far more manageable. Whether you buy a little at a time or simply set money aside, starting early gives you more control, more time to find genuine bargains, and will make January less of a struggle.

As the evenings become cooler and Christmas items begin to appear in the shops, autumn is a good time to take a fresh look at your household spending. Winter can bring additional costs, from higher energy use and fuel to seasonal shopping and household expenses. So, taking a little time now to check what you’re currently paying for could help you avoid unnecessary costs and unpleasant surprises later in the year.

September can often be a month of sales and special offers, as retailers clear their summer stock, and ‘back to school’ promotions and early Christmas deals appear in the shops. But before you go on a spending spree, ask yourself whether what you’re buying is really a bargain.

Amazon's ‘Prime Big Deal Days’ sale runs on Tuesday, 6 and Wednesday, 7 October, offering two days of discounts for Prime members. The sale comes seven weeks before Black Friday on 27 November, and with countdown timers on every page, it's easy to feel you need to act fast. However, while there are genuine bargains to be had, not every deal is necessarily what it seems. Here’s our advice, before you part with your money on an Amazon sale day:

September can often be a month of sales and special offers, as retailers clear their summer stock, and ‘back to school’ promotions and early Christmas deals appear in the shops. But before you go on a spending spree, ask yourself whether what you’re buying is really a bargain.

We've recently been contacted by some consumers who are concerned that they have been overcharged in local supermarkets. Has this happened to you?

September is often seen as a month for getting back into a routine. The summer holidays are over, children are back at school, and life starts to feel a little more organised again. It’s also a good time to take a fresh look at your household finances – including those regular payments that quietly leave your bank account each month.

The Jersey Consumer Council has welcomed calls for stronger protection against so-called ‘subscription traps’, which can leave consumers facing unexpected payments for services they no longer want or need. The issue has been highlighted following moves in the UK to introduce new measures aimed at making subscriptions easier to understand and cancel.

Have you been experiencing issues downloading images and videos, especially on social media sites?

For many Islanders, ferry travel is an essential part of life, whether travelling for work, medical appointments, family visits, long weekends away, or holidays. When a sailing is cancelled, it can cause significant inconvenience and expense.

If you’re travelling to Europe this summer, you may face longer queues at airports than normal because of new border control procedures now being used across most Schengen Area countries, called the Entry and Exit System (EES).

We know travel rules can sometimes feel confusing, so here is a straightforward guide to help you understand what you’ll need when travelling from Jersey, depending on where you are going and the passport you hold.